There are “growing opportunities” in Saudi Arabia for Brazilian companies in the fields of energy and telecommunications, said on Thursday (28) second-class minister Sergio Luis Canaes, whose appointment to the post of ambassador in Ryad was approved by the Committee on External Relations and National Defense (CRE). He noted that the Arab country will invest US$ 1.5 trillion in infrastructure over the next 10 years.

In the diplomat’s opinion, Brazilian companies can benefit from these investments, given the overall sentiments of sympathy towards the country, and also the fact that Brazil has sent many commercial missions to Saudi Arabia. Trade between the two countries totals U$ 3.2 billion a year, with a slight deficit to the Brazilian side. But Canaes expects this relation to change over the next years, as exports to the Arab country are on the rise. He reminded the case of Embraer, the Brazilian company that sold, between 2005 and 2007, 20 airplanes to Saudi Arabia.

The rapporteur of Canaes’s appointment, senator Cristovam Buarque (PDT-DF), praised the Brazilian effort to have closer relations with Saudi Arabia – who detains 25% of the world’s proven crude oil reserves, according to Canaes – and with  the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec). As the senator reminded , Brazil will be eligible to a place in Opec if the reserves at Santos Basin are confirmed. Canaes will also hold the posts of ambassador to the Republic of Yemen and in the Sultanate of Oman.

Slovenia

The Comittee on External Relations and National Defense also approved the appointment of Débora Vainer Barenboim and Maria Auxiliadora Figueiredo to the posts of ambassadors in Slovenia and Ivory Coast. These messages will now  be forwarded to the Plenary.

The second-class minister Debora Barenboim praised the democractic stability in Slovenia, and defined the country as a “young republic in a very delicate region”. She also announced that Brazil has the intention to establish a commercial office in the port of Koper. She predicts this office will help Brazil to reach a market of more than 100 million people in Central Europe.

Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Slovenia were established in 1992. Barenboim will be the first Brazilian ambassador to that country. Slovenia has a population of 2 million, and is currently deciding, according to senator Eduardo Azeredo (PSDB-MG), the message’s rapporteur, whether it will open an embassy in Brasilia or a commercial office in São Paulo.

Second-class minister Maria Auxiliadora Figueiredo was appointed to the post of ambassador in Ivory Coast, and also Liberia and Sierra Leoa. She said the Brazilian government intends to cooperate with the peace process in those three countries, all tormented recently by civil war.

Figueiredo said this process is not merely political, and that these three countries may represent a “immense market” to construction and mining companies. The rapporteur of the message was senator Cesar Borges (PR-BA).